Trump Says Charlie Kirk’s Widow ‘Devastated’ After Tragedy
President Donald Trump said Thursday that Charlie Kirk’s widow is “devastated” after her husband was gunned down during a speaking event in Utah.
Trump told reporters outside the White House that he had spoken at length with Erika Frantzve, the 31-year-old conservative activist’s wife and the mother of his two young children, The New York Post reported.
“I spoke to Erika, his wife. And we had a long talk,” Trump said.
“And she’s devastated. She is absolutely devastated, as you can imagine.”
Trump also said he has an “indication” of what motivated Kirk’s assassin to carry out the attack but declined to provide details.
He only noted that there have been “rapid developments” in the hunt for the Turning Point USA founder’s killer.
Authorities confirmed that two individuals were briefly taken into custody after the shooting but were released following questioning.
The gunman remains at large as a multi-agency manhunt intensifies.
The FBI has offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to the suspect’s identification and arrest.
Investigators released two surveillance photos of a “person of interest,” described as a lanky male dressed in dark clothing, wrap-around sunglasses, and a T-shirt bearing an eagle and American flag with the words “Land of the free, home of the brave.”
Earlier in the day, Trump announced that Kirk would be posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor.
“Charlie was a giant of his generation, a champion of liberty and an inspiration to millions and millions of people,” Trump said.
“I’m pleased to announce that I will soon be awarding Charlie Kirk posthumously the Presidential Medal of Freedom.”
She posted what turned out to be an ominous message shortly before he was assassinated at a Utah university on Wednesday.
Erika Kirk posted two Bible verses: “Psalm 46:1 – God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble,” and, “Psalm 34:8 – Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!”
Charlie Kirk was struck in the throat by a single bullet around 12:20 p.m. Wednesday while speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem.
The FBI released a statement on the X platform that it is assisting local law enforcement in the investigation while asking for the public’s help in identifying the assassin.
“The FBI is working alongside our local and state law enforcement partners in Utah to fully investigate and seek justice in the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University,” the FBI said.
On Thursday morning, the FBI reported it had collected extensive video footage showing the suspect fleeing from a rooftop into a nearby neighborhood. Agents also recovered a high-powered bolt-action rifle believed to have been used in the attack in a wooded area near the campus.
The FBI added that agents have obtained some forensic evidence allegedly belonging to the shooter, who “appears to be of college age,” said a spokesman.
FBI Director Kash Patel said earlier the agency “stands in full support of the ongoing response and investigation.”
Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason called the shooting a “targeted attack,” and said the scene is a “very large area.”
Mason said Wednesday the “only information” they have on the possible shooter was taken from CCTV on campus, and that the person was dressed in black clothing. The shot was fired on campus from a “longer distance,” potentially from a roof, he said. Subsequent reports estimated that the shooter was about 200 yards from Kirk.
Separately, authorities said they are also looking at security camera video depicting someone dressed in all dark clothing and that “the shooter is believed to have fired from the roof of a building down to the location of the public event in the student courtyard,” according to a statement from law enforcement officials.
